Now, a great war between the two sides had become almost inevitable.
It seemed that this night in Inferna City had come only to offer a final glimpse of peace before the coming dawn.
Perhaps... it was the last night on which people could close their eyes and sleep without worry.
Inside one of the palace's grand chambers, Lily, Liora, Lith, Luna, Master Jins, and Snehwal stood gathered around a large map.
Everyone's eyes were fixed upon it.
The deployment of the army, the supply routes, the paths leading to the battlefield, and every possible situation had already been carefully considered.
The preparations were almost complete.
Even so...
A heavy silence filled the chamber, as though every person present could already hear the footsteps of the destruction that was drawing near.
No one spoke.
At that very moment...
Suddenly, chaos erupted outside the palace.
"Fire...!"
"Help!"
"Quick! Bring water!"
The cries echoed throughout the entire city of Inferna.
The red flames rising into the sky were clearly visible through the windows.
Soldiers and townspeople immediately rushed toward the scene. Some hurried to extinguish the fire with buckets of water, while others helped move the nearby civilians to safety.
Snehwal and the others immediately rushed outside as well.
After silently watching the distant flames for a few moments, Master Jins's eyes narrowed. In a serious voice, he said, "This is no ordinary accident... Only one week is left."
He paused for a moment before speaking again in a slow yet resolute tone, "Someone deliberately ignited the first spark."
With those words, the atmosphere grew even heavier than before.
Now everyone understood... This was not merely a fire. It was the first sign of the coming war.
East, Chintamani Empire
King Omas's royal court was shrouded in darkness. The vast palace, which on ordinary days remained alive with soldiers, servants, and courtiers, now stood engulfed in an eerie silence.
Not a single person could be seen within its long corridors.
Only a few owls sat motionless upon the ancient stone walls. Their glowing eyes silently watched over the empty court.
The entire palace felt less like the residence of a king...
...and more like the dreadful calm before an approaching storm.
The Next Morning... Inferna City
Before sunrise, the entire army had already assembled. The enormous military camp, which had been full of life only a few hours earlier, had once again transformed into a boundless sea of discipline.
Without wasting a single moment, Lith Yakshini raised her hand.
"Move out!"
Her command echoed throughout the entire camp.
One hundred thousand soldiers immediately began marching toward Mehan Mountain.
Master Jins walked near the front of the army. Liora and Luna once again supervised the center of the formation, ensuring that every rank remained perfectly disciplined.
At the very rear...
Lily and Snehwal walked quietly, watching the endless sea of soldiers advancing before them.
No one spoke much.
Because everyone knew... The time ahead would decide the fate of the Land of Consciousness.
Again, After Seven Days of Travel... Evening, Southern Mehan Mountain
As the final rays of the setting sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the enormous army finally arrived at the southern plains of Mehan Mountain.
Before them stretched a vast rocky field that extended as far as the eye could see.
Towering cliffs surrounded the land from every direction, while the massive peaks of Mehan Mountain cast their long shadows across the entire battlefield.
This was the very place...
...mentioned in the letter.
A perfect ground for a duel...
Or...
For a great war.
Within moments, camps began to rise across the entire plain. Thousands of soldiers became busy setting up their temporary tents. Some gathered firewood.
Others began constructing defensive positions, while many soldiers were stationed around the area to keep watch.
Luna personally supervised the distribution of food, water, and medicine, making sure that no disorder arose anywhere.
Meanwhile, Lith Yakshini personally inspected every security arrangement and every military unit. Master Jins stood atop a high rock, silently surveying the entire battlefield. He engraved every feature of the terrain, every advantage, and every possible weakness into his memory.
At the same time...
Lily and Snehwal stood side by side, looking toward the distant horizon, where far beyond the mountains lay the Chintamani Empire.
Neither of them spoke. Words had already lost their importance.
Morning... The competition would begin. And every person present there knew only one truth.
Either all of this would end with a single duel...
Or... It would transform into a great war that would shake the entire Land of Consciousness.
Only the coming morning would decide that.
Between that decision... Stood only one night, and its weight rested heavily upon everyone's heart.